Wrist watch bracelet and end ring assembly for the same



Dec; 23, 1941-. J. M. BENDER 1 2,266,951

WRIST WATCH BRACELET AND END RING ASSEMBLY FOR THE SAME Filed Aug. 29, 1940 g 7 I V INVENTOR JOSEPH M. BENDER BY I P 3M ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 23, 1941 WRIST WATCH BRACELET AND END RING ASSEMBLY FOR THE SAIHE Joseph M. Bender, Hollis, N. Y., assignor tc Jacoby-Bender, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 29, 1940, Serial No. 354,661 10 Claims. (01. 59-82) This invention relates to wrist watch chains.

Most wrist watches are provided with two spaced lugs or bails at each end of the watch, and the wrist watch strap or chain is secured to the watch by means of a cross pin having springpressed points or tips. However, some watches, particularly ladies watches, have only a single lug or bail at each end. Such watches are connected to the wrist watch strap or, chain by means of an end ring. This ring is a split ring which is initially spread to facilitate attachment to the watch, following which the spread ends of the split ring are squeezed together to close the ring.

Such an end ring, although widely used, is not entirely satisfactory. In the first place the ring may be warped or deformed out of shape when closing the same. In order to make the connection a strong and dependable one, the ring should be made relatively stiff and substantial in cross section, but this makes it difficult 'to bend the ring and the ring may become scratched or marred during the bending operation.

The primary object of the present invention is generally to improve wrist watch chains or bracelets and particularly the end rings therefor. A more specific object is to provide a ring which may be rapidly and readily closed with no danger of marring or deforming the same. Still another object is to provide a ring which may be sturdy and rigid without any accompanying increase in the difliculty of closing th ring. Still another object is to provide an end ring, the strength of which does not depend upon the strength of that part of the structure which is bent to lock the ring in closed condition. Still another object is to provide an end ring assembly which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture as well as easy to use.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing. and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the wrist watch chain elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an assembly of wrist watch and chain with one end of the chain attached to the watch and the other end still open;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the end ring;

Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a development of the connector or anchor portion of the end ring assembly;

Fig. 5 illustrates a first step in the attachment of a chain having my improved end ring assembly to a watch;

Fig. 6 illustrates a later stage in the attachment of the chain to the watch;

Fig. 7 illustrates the final stage;

Fig. 8 is a section taken in the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. '1, the wrist watch l2 represents a relatively small ladies wrist watch having a single hollow lug or bail l4 at each end. The wrist watch chain may be of any desired character. That here shown comprises solid links l6 connected by bent sheet metal links Hi. There are two chain sections connected to an extensible clasp 20. This may be a conventional clasp of the general type having pivoted straps with a slidable ratchet for adjustment. It may, for example, be of the type shown in my Patent 2,097,055 issued October 26, 1937, and entitled Extensible bracelet clasp.

It is customary to sell the watch separately from the chain, in which case the jeweller must assemble the two. Even-when sold together 30 they are commonly manufactured separately, in

which case the watch manufacturer must attach the chain to the watch. In either case it is helpful to avoid the need for bending a split ring. In my arrangement the chain is provided at 85 each end with a novel end ring assembly generally designated 22. Each assembly is made of two main parts, an end ring 24 and a connector or anchor 26.

The and ring 24 is shown separately in Figs. 2 and 3. The ring is split and is provided with a pairof spaced parallel legs 28 and 29. These may be reduced in cross section, relative to the ring, and are provided with end heels or stops 30. Difierently expressed, the legs are transversely notched or recessed at 3|.

The connector or anchor 26 may assume a variety of forms and may be ornamented to-harmonize with the structure of the chain. It ispreferably made of sheet metal and one specific case is shown in Fig. 4. This is a development and shows the part prior to bending the same to shape. It will be seen that the piece is generally T shaped, it comprising arms 32 and 34 and a stem 36.

- As initially manufactured the ring 24 and the anchor 26 are connected by bending one of the arms, in this case the arm 32, around one of the legs, in this case the leg 28, as is best shown in Figs. and 8. The ring is held against escape by the heel 30 yet is oscillatable within arm 32, so that it may be turned to either the closed position shown at the left-hand end of Fig. 1 as well as Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 9, or the open position shown at the right-hand end of Fig. l and also in Fig. 5. When in the open position there is adequate space between the spaced legs 28 and 29 to receive the bail l4 of the wrist watch. Thus to assemble the parts it is merely necessary to slide the bail of the watch over the free leg of the ring as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, it being understood that the watch is being moved from left to right onto the ring. In Fig. 5 the inner or bottom side of the chain is shown in plan and consequently the top or bezel side of the watch case is held uppermost.

After the watch has been slid onto the ring the watch and ring are flipped over, thus bringing the free leg 29 to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the leg 29 being disposed just inside the arm 34 of the connector. At this time the arm 34 is in the upright or transverse position, best shown in Fig. 8. The entire arm 34 is now bent inwardly and downwardly around the leg 29, thus changing it from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to that shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The tip 35 is preferably initially biased, as shown in Fig, 8, so that arm 34 will better enclose leg 29. This completes the attachment of the end ring to the watch. The procedure outlined above is repeated for the opposite end of the chain.

It will be noted that no bending or working of the relatively stout ring 24 is required. The only part which need be bent is the sheet metal arm 34 of the connector. This is bent without great effort and without any tendency to deform or mar the ring. The arm 34 may be bent without scratching the same, but even if it should become slightly scratched this does not mar the appearance of the assembly, for the arm is located at the back of the assembly. Any pull tending to separate the chain from the watch is exerted longitudinally of the legs 28 and 29, and therefore has no direct tendency to open the bent arms or straps 32 and 34.

The center portion 40 of the connector 26 may be embossed and ornamented as shown in Fig. 4, and may, if desired. also be extended or projected at 42. This projection overlies the ring 24 as is shown at the left-hand end of Fig. 1, and so creates the appearance of connector 26 being a link which is bent around a completely circular ring. The ornamental part of the connector also serves to conceal the opening in the ring.

The stem 36 of the connector is bent around one of the solid links I6.

It is believed that the method of constructing and using my improved end ring for wrist watch chains, as well as the many advantages thereof will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be understood that the connector or anchor portion of the end ring assembly may be varied considerably for purposes of ornamentation or to harmonize with the chain. Moreover, while the invention is of greatest advantage in combination with a chain, it will be understood that the wrist watch bracelet need not necessarily be a chain, for the end ring assembly may also be used with a cord type bracelet or a "silk" bracelet. It will therefore be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An end ring assembly for a wrist watch bracelet intended for use with a wrist watch having a narrow lug or ball at each end, said end ring assembly comprising a rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a connector or anchor member having a part which is bent around a first leg of the ring and another part which is left open but which is adapted to be bent around the second leg of the ring in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, said first leg having a pivot part and an enlarged end, the anchor member being bent around the pivot part loosely enough to permit turning of the ring on the pivot part, but tightly enough so that the enlarged end prevents escape of the ring from the anchor member.

2. An end ring assembly for a wrist watch bracelet intended to be used with a wrist watch having a narrow lug or bail at each end, said end ring assembly including a relatively rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, said member being a. generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around one leg and the other arm of which is left open but is adapted to be bent around the other leg of the ring in order to anchor the same in closed position, the bent arm being bent around the leg loosely enough to permit rotation of the ring on said leg as a pivot, the stem of the T-member being adapted to be secured to the wrist bracelet.

3. An end ring assembly for a wrist watch bracelet intended for use with a wrist watch having a narrow lug or bail at each end, said end ring assembly comprising a relatively rigid ring open at one point with a pair of transversely notched legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member having a part which is bent around one leg of the ring within its notch and another part which is left open but which is adapted to be bent around the other leg of the ring within its notch in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail.

4. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a connector or anchor member for connecting said ring to the bracelet, said member having one part which is bent around a first leg of the ring member and another part which is left open but is adapted to be bent around the second leg of the ring member in order to anchor the same in closed position, said first leg having a pivot part and an enlarged end, the anchor member being bent around the pivot part loosely enough to permit turning of the ring on the pivot part, but tightly enough so that the enlarged end prevents escape of the ring from the anchor member.

5. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies 2,266,951 adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a relatively rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, said member being a generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around one leg of the ring and the other arm of which is left openbut is adapted to be bent around the other leg of the ring in order to anchor the same in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, the bent arm being bent around the leg loosely nough to permit rotation of the ring on said leg as a pivot, the stem of the T-member being secured to the wrist bracelet.

6. A wrist watch chain adapted for use with a ladys wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said chain having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, said member being a generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around one leg of the ring and the other arm of which is left open but is adapted to be bent around the other leg of the ring in order to anchor the same in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, the bent arm being bent around the leg loosely enough to permit rotation of the ring on said leg as a pivot, the. stem of the T-member being secured to the wrist chain, the exposed or center portion of the T-member being ornamented to harmonize with the chain and including a part which conceals the open point in the ring, so that th ring appears to be an ordinary circular ring.

7. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, said legs being transversely recessed, and a connector or anchor member, said member having one part which is bent around one leg of the ring within its recess and another part which is adapted to be readily bent around the other leg of the ring and to be received within its recess in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, said connector or anchor member being secured to the wrist bracelet.

8. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, said legs, being transversely recessed, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, saidmember being a generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around one leg of the ring within its recess and the other arm of which is adapted to be readily bent around the other leg of the ring and to be received within its recess in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, the stem of the connector or anchor member being secured to the wrist bracelet.

9. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a rigid ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, at least one of the legs having a pivot part and an enlargement at its end, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, said member being a generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around the pivot part of one leg of the ring and the other arm of which is left open but is preliminarily bent at its tip and is adapted to be readily bent around the other leg of the ring in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, the bent arm being loose enough to permit turning of the ring on the pivot part but tight enough so that the enlarged end prevents escape of the ring from the bent arm, the stem of the connector or anchor member being secured to the wrist bracelet, the center part of the connector or anchor member functioning to conceal the open part of the ring.

10. A wrist watch bracelet adapted for use with a wrist watch having a single lug or bail at each end, said bracelet having end ring assemblies adapted for ready attachment to the watch, each end ring assembly including a ring open at one point with a pair of legs projecting from the ring at that point, said legs being transversely recessed, and a sheet metal connector or anchor member, said member being a generally T-shaped piece of sheet metal one arm of which is bent around one leg of the ring within its recess and the other arm of which is left open but is preliminarily bent at its tip and is adapted to be readily bent around the other leg of the ring and to be received within its recess in order to anchor the ring in closed position after the ring has been passed through a watch bail, the stem of the connector or anchor member being secured to the wrist bracelet, the center part of the connector or anchor member functioning to conceal the open part of the ring.

JOSEPH M. BENDER. 

